Contoured Leg Edges for Disposable Pant-Type Articles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Disposable pant-type articles face challenges in providing a good fit and comfort for a wide range of users due to varying body builds and sizes, while maintaining high standards of absorbency and leakage protection.
Innovation Solution
The design features elastically stretchable front and rear body panels with a unique crotch region shape, including inner and outer points on the leg edges, and the use of pre-tensioned crotch elastic members to enhance body conformance and comfort, along with a method of production that involves attaching elastic materials in a tensioned state to non-stretchable materials to create a comfortable and discreet pant-type article.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If pant-type articles are designed with standard leg edges, then manufacturing is simpler, but fit and comfort are insufficient for users with varying body builds and sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The leg edge is divided into multiple sections: a first leg edge section, a crotch leg edge section, and a second leg edge section. Each section can be independently shaped and positioned to accommodate different body contours, allowing the article to adapt to various thigh shapes and sizes while maintaining manageable manufacturing complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The leg edges are positioned at different distances from the longitudinal center line, creating an asymmetric, three-dimensional contour that follows the natural curvature of the human body. This dimensional variation in edge positioning enables better adaptation to diverse body builds without requiring completely different article designs
2Adaptability or versatility
If the crotch region is made narrower to improve fit, then body conformance is enhanced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Elastic members are attached to the crotch region web in a tensioned state before final assembly. This preliminary tensioning allows the crotch region to be manufactured at a standard width while the elastic pre-tension automatically creates the narrower, body-conforming shape during wear, reducing manufacturing precision requirements for the crotch width itself
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic members change the physical state of the crotch region from a relaxed, wider configuration during manufacturing to a tensioned, narrower configuration during use. This parameter change in the elastic state allows the same crotch region to serve both manufacturing and wearing requirements without compromising precision
3Adaptability or versatility
If elastic members are used to enhance body conformance, then comfort and fit are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic members serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide body conformance, create the narrowed crotch region shape, and secure the leg edges in position. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving enhanced adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic members are integrated directly into the crotch region web structure, merging the elastic function with the structural support function of the crotch region. This integration reduces the number of separate components and simplifies the overall device complexity while maintaining the body conforming benefits
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution results in a pant-type article that offers improved body conformance, comfort, and leakage security, providing a tailored fit and absorbency suitable for a broader range of users, while maintaining a discreet and undergarment-like appearance.
Implementation Method 1
a front body panel being elastically stretchable in the transverse direction, the front body panel having a front waist edge, a front crotch edge opposite the front waist edge and a first and a second longitudinal side edge; a rear body panel being elastically stretchable in the transverse direction
Data Source
AI summary
A disposable pant-type article including a front body panel and a rear body panel, each being elastically stretchable in a transverse direction, and a crotch region being located between a front panel crotch edge and a rear panel crotch edge. The article has first and second leg edges, each leg edge constituted by a front leg edge section, a rear leg edge section, and a crotch leg edge section. Each front leg edge section has an inner point located at a greater distance from a side seam than from a longitudinally extending centre line, the inner point being closer to the front waist edge than an outer point on the front leg edge section. Each crotch leg edge section has an intermediate point located between the front and rear crotch edges which is closer to the longitudinal centre line than a front endpoint of the crotch leg edge section.